OCSiAl licences nanotube technology to latex gloves maker

Colombo – OCSiAl has licenced its Tuball graphene nanotube technology to Sri Lankan conglomerate Hayleys plc for the production of latex glove.

Hayleys Aventura has installed a production line to manufacture latex dispersions incorporating the nano-material at its facility in Kaluthara, Sri Lanka, OCSiAl announced 29 June.

Intended for markets in south Asia and Europe, gloves made from the special latex meet electrostatic discharge (ESD) standards, said the supplier's statement.

ESD-safety and touch screen-compatibility are increasing requirements for gloves used in industries such as automotive and electronics, said Jayanga Ileperuma, general manager of Hayleys Aventura.

Graphene nanotubes, Ileperuma went on to claim, could “revolutionise” the ESD glove sector due to the enhanced capability to dissipate static charges.

Hayleys Aventura has been distributing OCSiAl graphene nanotubes for rubber, latex and other polymer applications in Sri Lanka since 2017.

The company decided to open local manufacturing “to meet the growing market demand,” said Ravi Mohan Dabral, director of business development EMEA.

Tuball latex is a water-based solution containing well-dispersed graphene nanotubes that can be applied to produce latex industrial gloves.

In contrast to ammonium salts, which easily evaporate, graphene nanotubes provide “permanent and humidity-independent” electrical resistance, according to OCSiAl.

Furthermore, the nanotubes do not interfere with the dipping technology or the glove’s performance, said the Luxembourg-based carbon nanotechnology company.

According to OCSiAl, “extremely low working dosages” of the nanotubes, starting from just 0.06%, are sufficient to achieve electrical resistance below 1*10^8 ohms.